Southern Phone is the Australian Telecom Operator which provides high-value fixed-line, mobile, and internet connectivity. Since 2002, the company has grown exponentially under the Government’s Networking “The Nation” scheme. Southern Phone Company Ltd is an unlisted public company and the profits are returned to the people via the Local Councils. The services offered are of low cost, ensuring the smooth functioning of the system and in turn, optimizing the benefits reaped by the community.
It is one of the rare Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that uses both Optus as well as Telstra 3G or 4G network services. You get the full 3G network access of Optus services. However, you only get limited access to 3G and 4G network access of Telstra services.
Southern Phone Mobile Plans:
| Southern Phone Mobile Plans | Features | Data | Included Calls | Price |
| Southern Green SIM only $65 Plan 12 Month
| Optus 3G network Contract 12 month | 30 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $65.00 per month Min. total cost is $780.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Green Sim only $50 Plan 12 Month | Optus 3G network Contract 12 month | 15 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $50.00 per month Min. total cost is $600.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Green Sim only $35 Plan 12 Month
| Optus 3G network Contract 12 month | 10 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $35.00 per month Min. total cost is $420.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Green Sim only $22 Plan 12 Month
| Optus 3G network Contract 12 month | 4 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $22.00 per month Min. total cost is $264.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Green Sim only $10 Plan 12 Month
| Optus 3G network Contract 12 month | 1 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $10.00 per month Min. total cost is $120.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Orange Sim only $10 Plan 12 Month
| Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 12 month | 500 MB Data Extra data $10/GB | $500 Australian Calling minutes + messages | $10.00 per month Min. total cost is $120.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Orange Sim only $22 Plan 12 Month | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 12 month | 1 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $22.00 per month Min. total cost is $264.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Orange Sim only $35 Plan 12 Month | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 12 month | 5 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $35.00 per month Min. total cost is $420.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Orange Sim only $50 Plan 12 Month
| Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 12 month | 7 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $50.00 per month Min. total cost is $600.00 over 12 months |
| Southern Orange Sim only $65 Plan 12 Month
| Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 12 month | 15 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $65.00 per month Min. total cost is $780.00 over 12 months |
| Southern 4G XX Large Plan SIM only | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 24 month | 10 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $70.00 per month Min. total cost is $1680.00 over 24 months |
| Southern 4G Large Plan SIM only | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 24 month | 3 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $40.00 per month Min. total cost is $960.00 over 24 months |
| Southern 4G X Large Plan SIM only | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 24 month | 5 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $50.00 per month Min. total cost is $1200.00 over 24 months |
| Southern 4G Medium Plan SIM only | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 24 month | 1.5 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $30.00 per month Min. total cost is $720.00 over 24 months |
| Southern 4G Small Plan SIM only | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 24 month | 1 GB Data Extra data $10/GB | Unlimited Standard National Calls + Unlimited text messages | $25.00 per month Min. total cost is $600.00 over 24 months |
| Southern 4G Budget Plan SIM only | Parts of Telstra 3G/4G network Contract 24 month | 200 MB Data Extra data cost $10/1GB
| $200 Australian Calling minutes + messages | $10.00 per month Min. total cost is $240.00 over 24 months |
What Are the Services Offered by Southern Phone?
Southern Phone presents to its customers Postpaid Mobile plans on a SIM-only basis using allocated parts of Telstra and Optus Networks. The plans are offered on a month to month basis or for 24 months’ contract duration. Also, there exists a wide variety of plans which include a mobile phone handset too.
How Much Does Southern Phone Cost?
Southern Phone includes a variety of plans which are operating on the Optus 3G and parts of Telstra 4G network. The pricing comprises of plans having $5 plans with no extra included credit to high bandwidth plans incorporating credit of $70 for a plan with unlimited standard national calls and unlimited text messages and 10 GB of high-speed data.
Southern Phone also suggests contract plans running on the Optus’ 3G network or Telstra’s 4G network. The Telstra network plans starting at $10 per month holds 200 MB of data and $200 of calls and text messages and ends with $70 per month with 10 GB of high speed data and bundled with unlimited standard calls and text messages. The above plans, however, do not include the handset repayment costs, which of course vary with individual handsets.
If however, you intend to go with “value” plans by the Optus 3G network, you will be spending lowest at $5 per month with no included benefits of voice, text or data. The more expensive yet beneficial of the plans is worth $20 per month with $200 of voice call credit, unlimited national text messages and 1.5 GB of data.
What Extras does Southern Phone Offer?
Most of the MVNOs offer choice in simple SIM-only plans but Southern Phone tries to up its game by offering a range of handsets on contract terms alongside the SIM specific plans.
It also offers the flexibility of choice in choosing not only the plans you intend to buy but also the network upon which depends.
What Are the Excess Charges of Southern Phone?
- Excess call costs
- Excess data costs
- International call costs
- Early contract cancellation fees
The excess charges on your plan depend upon whether you are on Southern Mobile 4G or Southern Mobile Value plans.
Southern Mobile Call And Text Message Charges
The entry-level plan of Southern 4G has $200 of credit to spend on standard national calls at 99c per minute and text messages at 25c each. If you surpass that, the calls would be adding 40c to your monthly bill. Most of the other plans have unlimited standard national calls and text messages.
For Southern Value plans, most of it is also the same. The $10 plan provides $200 of call credit, charging 99 cents per minute with 40 cents excess charge and the text messages at 25c each. However, if you have subscribed to a plan which grants you unlimited national calls and text messages, then you should be wary of non-standard calls such as premium phone or SMS services, calls to satellite phones or video calls as they would incur large costs on top of your monthly charge.
Looking for cheaper call rates? Check out our other reviews on Belong mobile plans
Southern Mobile Data Charges
Almost all of the plans include basic data services, but after you have exhausted it, additional data charges would be levied. The small 4G mobile plan has an excess charge of 5 cents per MB with the minimum being 25 cents. If you intend to use a little bit of extra data, then it is suitable. Extra data is charged at $10 per additional GB. Comparing both of them, Southern Phone is charging an extra $50 per GB.
For all the other plans, the excess charge is $10 per GB when you exhaust your data quota, including the $10 Value plan. The first 3 GB of extra data would be charged at $10 per GB and thereafter 5 cents per MB.
It supports international calling for its Value and 4G customers having a slight variation in pricing manner for each plan type and the country where you are calling. The pricing sheet can be found on its website. Southern Phone although supporting international roaming, recommends buying a local SIM card at your destination as it is very expensive. You can start international roaming if you call them first on 13 14 64.
There is no early termination fee for contracts. However, on closing the account, the device payment fees should be settled and any existing monthly bill or excess charges.
ADVANTAGES
- Choice of standard or unlimited plans: Southern Phone offers 4G network services if you live within the coverage area of the network. If not, you can save some money as the 3G network services are competitively priced.
DISADVANTAGES
- Some handset plans are expensive: You should check the prices and installments you need to pay for the handset before you sign up for a specific plan.
- Limited to Optus 3G network: The Optus network only allows for the 3G services and you would be slowed down in terms of the data speeds.
